Stuck in a Blackout? Battery Backup Openers Explained

Storms, heat waves and downed trees all knock out power on Long Island. When that happens, a normal garage door opener is just a motor with no electricity. If your car is inside and you need to leave, you'll have to open the door by hand. And if you're getting home in the rain after dark, you're locked out of your own garage.

How to open your garage door manually

Chamberlain's support instructions and most opener manuals describe the same steps:

1. Check the springs first. Look above the door. If a torsion spring has a gap in the coil, stop. The door will feel extremely heavy and can drop. See can you open a garage door with a broken spring?
2. Make sure the door is fully closed if you can. Chamberlain's safety warning is to use the emergency release only when the door is fully closed, if possible, because a door with weak or broken springs can fall quickly.
3. Pull the red cord straight down. It hangs from the trolley on the opener rail. That disconnects the door from the opener.
4. Lift the door by the handles. A balanced door should lift with moderate effort. Keep your fingers out of the joints between sections.
5. Lock it if you leave it closed. With the opener disconnected, the door can be lifted from outside. Use the manual lock if your door has one.

When the power comes back, run the opener through a full open and close cycle. Chamberlain says the trolley reconnects to the door on its own. If it doesn't catch the first time, run another cycle.

You usually don't need to reprogram anything. Chamberlain says remote programming isn't erased when the opener loses power, even for a long outage.

How battery backup openers work

A battery backup opener has a rechargeable battery built in or plugged into the motor unit. While the power's on, the battery stays charged. When the power goes out, the opener switches over and keeps running for a limited number of cycles. LiftMaster's support notes that an opener on battery runs slower and its lights don't come on, which saves power.

Battery backup works with DC motor openers. Chamberlain notes that since California's law took effect, only DC openers are sold there.

Why California made them the law

California's SB 969 took effect on July 1, 2019. It requires every residential garage door opener sold or installed in the state to have a battery backup that works during an outage. It also bars installing a replacement garage door onto an existing opener that doesn't have one. Violations carry a $1,000 civil penalty per opener.

The reason was grim. According to the California Assembly's bill analysis, at least five people who died in the 2017 Northern California wildfires lost their lives during evacuation because they couldn't get their cars out of their garages during power outages.

That law doesn't apply in New York. But the lesson carries over. If anyone in your house might need to leave quickly during an outage, like someone with medical needs or someone who can't lift a heavy door, a battery backup is worth serious thought.

What the beeping means

Battery backup openers talk to you with beeps and a status light. On Chamberlain and LiftMaster battery backup models, Chamberlain's support site lists:

Genie's battery backup guidance focuses on the status light. It says a yellow light means charging, and red or red-to-yellow flashing means the battery voltage is too low. If it's still red after 48 hours, the battery has failed to charge.

Not sure where the beeping is coming from? If your opener doesn't have battery backup, Chamberlain points out it may be a nearby smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm or water softener.

How long the battery lasts

LiftMaster says its backup battery usually lasts one to two years, depending on use and care. Genie adds that extreme cold and frequent use both shorten battery life. Genie recommends checking the status light about once a month and testing the backup every six months.

A simple test is to unplug the opener and run the door once. If it doesn't move, or it beeps a low-battery warning, replace the battery before the next storm. Use the replacement model your opener's manual specifies. Batteries differ by brand and model.

Should you upgrade?

If your current opener works well, you don't have to replace it just to get battery backup. Consider it when:

• Your opener is old, loud or unreliable and you're replacing it anyway
• The garage is the main way in and out of your house
• Someone at home couldn't safely lift the door by hand
• You lose power often or live on a street where trees take down lines

For what a new opener costs, see our opener installation cost guide. If your opener isn't working after the power came back, start with opener repair.